Take it from us: it’s never been easier to adopt a vegan diet in Hong Kong. Here’s our Ultimate Guide to vegan restaurants in Hong Kong.
When people talk about Hong Kong’s food culture, they normally bring up Cantonese roast meats, fresh seafood or custardy yellow egg tarts. However, thanks to the growing popularity of veganism, wellness and sustainability, the city’s food scene has seen an explosion in vegan-friendly offerings over the last few years.
We’re not just talking meat substitutes and an extended selection of vegetable side dishes either. More and more restaurants in Hong Kong are now entirely meat-free, making it easier than ever to adopt a vegan diet in Hong Kong.
Since vegans in Hong Kong are now in the lucky position of being spoilt for choice, The Vegan Review has scoured the city to give you the lowdown on some of the best plant-based restaurants across a variety of cuisines and price points, broken down by districts.
Central and Western District
Big Dill
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Following the success of its vegan block parties last year, Big Dill recently opened its first brick-and-mortar location, a colourful and cosy neon-lit burger joint in Sai Ying Pun. Every single one of the plant proteins, from the pulled pork to the lamb gyro and fried chicken, is made in-house from scratch, and it even has homemade doughnuts with vegan whipped cream.
Confusion Plant Based Kitchen
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Satisfy all of your cravings at once with the globe-trotting cuisine from Confusion, a hidden vegan gem in Sheung Wan. There aren’t many places in Hong Kong where you can order Hainanese chicken rice, shawarma, and tacos all in one go, and that’s before you factor in Confusion’s commitment to veganism, organic produce and fair working conditions. You can even ask them to cater for your junk parties (once it’s safe to have junk parties again, of course).
Miss Lee
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Between the covetable Wellington Street location and 70s-influenced decor, it’s easy to mistake Miss Lee for a trendy afternoon tea spot rather than a refined Chinese restaurant. But it turns out that Miss Lee is a strong contender in both categories, with picture-perfect desserts and a dedicated tea menu as well as elegant and technically challenging Cantonese dishes. Every dish at Miss Lee is vegetarian, and the menu clearly indicates which items are vegan, gluten-free, or Buddhist-friendly (allium-free).
Treehouse
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When it comes to healthy vegan grab-and-go meals, Treehouse has cornered the market (at least in Central). The plant-based eatery specialises in flatbreads, grain bowls, and salads, which can be customised with over 30 toppings and 10 sauces. Absolutely everything except for two toppings (a fried egg and non-animal-rennet halloumi) is vegan, and every ingredient except for the halloumi and bread is made in-house from locally sourced produce.
Wan Chai
Isoya Japanese Vegetarian Restaurant
Whether you’re a recent convert to the vegan lifestyle who’s missing sushi or a longtime vegan who’s tired of cucumber maki, Isoya’s got you covered. This serene vegetarian restaurant in Wan Chai is operated by the husband-and-wife team behind traditional sushi restaurant Ishiyama, so believe us when we say: they know what they’re doing.
You’ll find everything from homemade noodles and tempura to vegan sea urchin and tuna sushi. Vegan items are clearly marked on the menu, but if anything containing dairy or eggs catches your eye, just let the staff know and they’ll adjust the dish for you.
Causeway Bay
Sakti Elixir Bar at Fivelements Habitat
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Not only does this Balinese retreat offer yoga classes, sound baths, and spa treatments, but it also has an in-house restaurant specialising in seasonal, plant-based food and organic juices and smoothies. Dishes vary from classic wellness foods like acai bowls and granola to regional dishes like congee, curry laksa, and idli. Everything at Sakti Elixir Bar is free of dairy, eggs, and gluten, though a select few dishes contain honey.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Saravanaa Bhavan
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If you’re looking for a quick and easy vegan meal in Tsim Sha Tsui (and don’t have time to get lost in Chungking Mansions), you can’t go wrong with Saravanaa Bhavan. This popular international chain serves affordable South Indian food in a no-frills canteen setting. Everything here is vegetarian, while a large portion of the menu (including its famous dosas) is vegan-friendly.
Pure Veggie House
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Making a good char siu bao is no small feat — and making a good vegan char siu bao is even harder, which is why we’re thankful that Pure Veggie House is around to satisfy all your vegan dim sum needs. On top of its authentic and extensive yum cha spread, this Buddhist restaurant also serves vegan hotpots, which we will be endlessly grateful for in the winter months.
Vego Coffee
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If you ever have a craving for something sweet when you’re in Tsim Sha Tsui, do yourself a favour and pop into Vego Coffee. This cosy vegan cafe has a constantly rotating selection of homemade cakes, from elaborate fruit tarts to matcha and adzuki sponge cakes and even durian-flavoured cakes. There’s also an all-day dining menu with vegan versions of Western brunch-style food, like bagels, burritos and waffles.
Sham Shui Po
YEARS
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Despite opening during a particularly difficult time in Hong Kong (to say the least), this little vegan cafe has become a runaway success in the last year, and has since branched out to two more locations. The food here is a distinctly Hong Kong combination of Western, Japanese, Thai and Cantonese cafe fare, with signatures like dan dan spaghetti, katsu curry risotto, and Thai green curry risotto. Throw in some seriously photogenic desserts and decor and you’ve got a winner.
New Territories
2084 Sai Kung
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While Sai Kung might be known for its seafood restaurants, there are plenty of hidden vegan gems in the quiet town. One of our favourites is 2084, an Asian fusion tapas bar that’s just a short stroll away from Sai Kung’s famous waterfront. Some of its most popular dishes include the vegan Peking duck tacos, spicy mapo tofu and pan-seared momos. Not only is 2084 dog-friendly, but the staff regularly hand out homemade vegan peanut butter treats to furry visitors too!
